Pope Leo XIV: One Spiritual Trait
200 words: A call for the heart that loves
Pope Pius XI canonised St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897), St. John Eudes (1601-1680) and St. John Mary Vianney (1786-1859) in 1925.
Commemorating the 100th anniversary, the French bishops received a message from Pope Leo XIV. He focused on ‘one spiritual trait’ the three saints have in common.
They loved Jesus unreservedly in a simple, strong and authentic way. They experienced his goodness and tenderness in a special closeness, and they bore witness to it in an admirable missionary drive.
It is the heart that loves. Leo XIV quotes Pope Francis on the Sacred Heart:
That Stream, which is never exhausted, never passes away…offers itself time and time again to all those who wish to love as he did. For his love alone can bring about a new humanity (He Loved Us, 219).
Pope Leo XIV says that there exists no better programme of a mission than this. Of course, we do well to remember that saints do not arise in a vacuum, but rather:
By grace, emerge from living Christian communities that have been able to transmit the faith to them, to kindle in their hearts the love of Jesus and the desire to follow him.
Amen
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